Yam Gardening For Beginners, How To Start

Introduction to starting yam gardening for beginners, planting tips, techniques, ideas, questions, and answers: Hello everyone we are back with an interesting topic today and the topic is all about yam gardening for beginners. Do you want to grow yam by yourself and do you want to know all the growing requirements of yam? Then follow this complete article. In this article, we are going to discuss some frequently asked questions about yam gardening.

Yam refers to a group of plant species in the Dioscorea genus that produce edible tubers. Yams are perennial herbaceous vines grown for their starchy tubers in temperate and even tropical locations around the world, particularly in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Oceania.

A step by step guide to starting yam gardening for beginners, planting tips, techniques, ideas, questions, and answers

Begin to grow the sprouts. Yams are grown from slips, which are formed from the sprouts of adult yams, rather than seeds like most other vegetables. Cut a yam in half and place one half in a glass of cool water to produce sprouts. Place toothpicks at three places around the yam’s midsection and suspend it half-submerged in the water over the container.

Warm up the sprouts. Warmth is required for the growth process, so position the glass near a heat source. If at all feasible, place the glass near a window so that the budding yam receives some light. Place it near a heater if you want to absorb heat that way.

Allow sprouts to grow. If required, refill the jars or glasses with water to maintain the yam’s submersion level. Wait for the yam to sprout, which will take a few weeks. When the sprouts are fully leafed, gently twist each one away from the yam.

A single yam can yield up to 50 sprouts.

The slips must be rooted. In a shallow container, place each sprout with the bottom half of the stem submerged in water. Allow the leaves to dangle over the container’s rim. Roots should emerge from the bottom of each sprout over a few days. When the roots are about one inch long, they are ready to be planted as slips.

Place the slips in the dirt and bury them. Dig holes that are approximately 4 inches or 5 inches deep and 3 inches wide (approximately 10 or 12 cm deep and 7 to 8 cm wide). Slips should be positioned with the roots pointing down and the leafy tops above the dirt in the holes (dug about 8 to 10 inches apart). Fill the holes with soil very gently, being careful not to jostle or bruise the slips.

To remove any air pockets, lightly press the earth down.

Give the plants plenty of water. Water newly planted slips every day for the first week, every other day for the second week, and then less and less as they grow. Give them plenty of water, but keep an eye on the crop to avoid waterlogging. Because yams grow in direct sunshine, adapt the watering plan accordingly if the soil becomes dry.

To help improve the state of the produce, use fertilizer during the growth stage. Purchase a fertilizer that is heavy in phosphorus and low in nitrogen, an ingredient that might hinder root development. Fertilize the crop every two to four weeks at the most.

Now, let us discuss some frequently asked questions about yam gardening;

Which month is the best for planting yams?

Seed yams (pieces of tubers or fully little ones) saved for the upcoming planting seasons are best planted in mounds or ridges between February and March. Land preparation, clearing, and burning of grasses heaping, and ridging are done earlier in some locations, particularly in riverine areas.

How long does it take for a yam to mature?

Yams take 14 weeks to mature on average. When the plant’s tops begin to yellow and wither, it’s time to harvest them. Harvesting is usually done in the fall season.

How is yam grown?

In case if you are interested in this: How To Grow Organic Spinach At Home.

After clearing the first fallow, yam is grown on free-draining, sandy, and fertile soil. Seed yam or cut setts from ware tubers are used to plant. To avoid damage to the soils, the tubers must be treated with wood ash or a fungicide (thiabendazole) one day before planting.

How deep should yams be planted?

Compost, well-rotted manure, and slow-release fertilizer should all be added to the soil. Plant the tubers in rows 45cm apart, 25cm apart, and 6 to 8cm deep. The tubers appear to grow in size when the plants are piled up like potatoes. When the green tops drop away in the autumn, yams are ready to harvest.

Is it possible to grow yams in the ground?

Potatoes and yams are both root vegetables with tubers that grow in the ground; however, they are not sweet potatoes.

When yams are ready to be harvested, how do you know?

The best time to harvest is when the leaf’s starch concentration is at its lowest point. The lower leaves begin to turn yellow around this time. This occurred before the entire leaves began to degrade, about six months after the rainy season sowing.

After planting, how long does it take to harvest yam?

Yams are harvested 6 to 12 months after planting, depending on the cultivar. When the leaves and stems become yellow and dry, it’s time to harvest the tubers. If you leave the ripe tubers in the ground for too long, they will become bitter and decompose.

Is yam fertilizer required?

Fertilization is an important part of yam (Dioscorea spp.) management, especially when cultivated in deteriorated soils. D’s leaf counts, leaf area indices, crop growth, yields, and nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) utilization efficiency were all examined in a field study.

What is the best way to apply yam fertilizer?

The recommended amount of fertilizer is divided into two parts, with one half administered one month after emergence and the other half applied two months later. Fertilizer is applied using the band method, with the Fertilizer placed around 10 cm apart from the plants.

What are the yam diseases?

The field and storage illnesses are discussed, with anthracnose being the most widely disseminated of all field diseases and yam mosaic virus disease causing the most severe losses in yams. Dry rot is the most dangerous of all the yam storage diseases.

How do you look after your yams?

Yams may grow in dry soil once they’ve been planted. It’s ideal and optimum to keep it uniformly moist by watering it once a week with 1 inch of water. To prevent the mature tubers from splitting, you should not water your yams in the final three to four weeks before harvest.

What is the most common yam pest?

In the field and storage, yam scales, mealy bugs, and a few beetles cause major tuber losses. For these insect pests, we look at a variety of control options. It’s critical to take a holistic strategy to pest management, both in the field and in storage.

What’s the best way to raise organic yams?

Warm temperatures and an extended growing season are required.
Plant in loose, well-draining soil, with lots of room to spread out and full sun.
Plant only when the earth has warmed and the threat of frost has passed.
In 70 to 140 days, the plant will be ready to harvest.

What is the most effective method for growing yams?

Fill the pot halfway with potting mix, then add the yam and cover it off with the dirt. After the risk of frost has passed, transplant them into the garden (they transplant willingly). Don’t go overboard with the foliage-producing fertilizer. All you need is good compost mixed into well-draining soil.

What is the best way to grow water yam?

Place the yam in a water-filled jar. Place toothpicks into the sides of the yam to keep the top third uncovered. The pointed end of the stick needs to be submerged in the water. A vine with multiple stems will develop in a few weeks.

Before planting yams, how do you cure them?

Before planting, apply a mixed solution of insecticide, fungicide, and nematicide on seed tubers (mini-sets or small tubers).

To allow the cut surface to dry, dip seed tubers into this solution for 2 to 3 minutes and then leave them in a shady area (e.g. under a tree) for 18 to 24 hours.

How long does it take for a yam to sprout?

Yams are very strong feeders that thrive in rich, loose-textured soil with plenty of moisture. As the yams grow in size, it’s extremely crucial to keep them moist. Consider applying fertilizer in a row, about 4 inches apart from the yam plants, at this point. Around 11 to 13 weeks after the yam plant emerges, tuber development begins.

Is it possible to grow yams from a cutting?

Cuttings are the quickest and most convenient way to grow yam. Simply cut a foot or 30cm long piece of runner from the runner. Except for the little leaves at the very tip, remove all of the leaves. Cover the entire length of the cutting with dirt; just the leaves of the tip should protrude from the ground.

What is the best way to deal with curled leaves?

Sulfur or copper-based fungicides labeled for use on peaches and nectarines can be used to control leaf curl. After 90 percent of the leaves have fallen in the fall, spray the entire tree again in the early spring, just before the buds open.

Is it possible to grow yams in a greenhouse?

Consider growing yam slips or sprouts in your greenhouse to get a head start on your warm-weather garden. In the greenhouse, place yams near a window. Yams plants require a lot of sunlight to grow. Allow the yam to rest in the sunlight for at least a week before planting.

Is it possible to grow yams indoors?

A yam that you don’t want to eat can be the start of a lovely indoor houseplant. You may create a green, vining plant that will thrive indoors or outdoors by roots the yam in water and then planting the shoots in a growing medium.

What is the recommended spacing for yam planting?

Seed yam or cut setts from ware tubers are used to plant. To avoid damage to the soils, the tubers must be treated with wood ash or a fungicide (thiabendazole) one day before planting. With the cut face facing up, the sets are planted at 15 to 20cm (5.9 to 7.9 inches) intervals.

When is the best time to harvest yam?

As a result, yam tubers are either picked too early or too late. You can harvest before the entire leaf decomposes by utilizing the simple approach of harvesting when the lower leaves begin to turn yellow. This ensures that only mature yams are collected.

What causes yam tuber holes?

Weevil or yam beetle: Adult weevils in the fields cause damage to tubers in the shape of large holes or a few centimeters deep from the time of germination until harvest. The brownish-red adult, which is a good flier, produces a yellow powder through circular perforations.

Which type of yam soil is best?

Because yam is a high-nutrient-demanding plant, it requires a deep, free-draining soil with loamy sand or clay loam characteristics that is deep, free-draining, and relatively high to medium infertility. For maximum production, good soil drainage is required.

How can you get yam soil ready?

Till the land to a depth of 20 to 40 cm. Add organic manure, well-rotted farmyard manure, compost, or green manure at a rate of 10 to 40 tons per hectare at this time. To increase yield, inorganic fertilizers can be employed. The levels vary by country, region, and even within the same field’s soils.

How much water are yams required to grow?

Yams may grow in dry soil once they’ve been planted. It’s good and ideal to keep it uniformly moist by watering it once a week with 1 inch of water. To prevent the mature tubers from splitting, don’t water your yams in the final three to four weeks before harvest.

Do yams require a lot of water to grow?

Yams prefer moist, well-drained soil to thrive. Yams are heavy feeders, thus this will help them expand their roots. Watering frequently is necessary to keep the soil moist.

1 COMMENT

Captain May 7, 2023 At 3:26 am

Have have been given some Yam seeds, but I’m not able to find any instructions anywhere on how to grow yams from seed. Would you be so kind as to send me a short note with the instructions how how to germinate yam seeds. Thank you.